Today I speak with the editor of the AV Club, the non-joke but often-funny entertainment section of the Onion. Working for the AV Club means one wears many hats, so in addition to editing, he conducts interviews and writes film, music book reviews and more. Full disclosure: while I did not buy Keith a Christmas present this year, I did buy one for his dog, so I think that means we are friends.

Why did the AV Club decide to implement blogs? Has it helped you guys?
Because everyone else was doing it and it looked like fun. Okay, that's only part of the reason. There's a lot of stuff we'd like to cover that doesn't fall under the umbrella of reviews and interviews and a year ago-pre-blog and pre-website redesign-there wasn't really an outlet for it. Also, while we continue to post the bulk of our content on Tuesday afternoons, we'd like to give readers a reason to check back in during the week, both because we like them and miss them and because, hey, those American Apparel t-shirts don't sell themselves, you know? Has it helped? I think so. I feel like it's still a work in progress and it's not the most popular part of the site (or the least) but it's helped get us thinking about new types of content, including a fairly big new feature that's launching soon but I don't want to talk about yet. (Keep clicking on avclub.com, folks!) Also, I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I know it's helped me loosen up as a writer and I think the spirit of the thing has crept into the section as a whole.

Do you pay much attention to the comments on the blogs or not so much?
I believe the cool answer is "no." But I totally, totally do. I check back all the time. And you know what? I've learned I like our readers. They're a pretty smart, cool bunch and I like interacting with them. Well, except for that guy who called us "cunts" for adding a rating system. That guy I could do without.

Based on the interviews you've conducted since you've had this job, what have been the most helpful things you've learned about how to make an interview as good as it can be?
Know your subject going into it. Be informed and you won't bore them. You'll probably have to ask some of the same questions everyone else is asking, but try to find a different angle to it. Keep your questions as short as you can. The Q to A ratio should tilt heavily toward the A side of the equation. It's not about you.

One of the things I like best about the Onion AV Club are the features that are sort of unusual spins on timely topics, like around the holidays, the cheap toy roundup. Are those ideas come up with as a group?
That particular idea comes from veteran Onion writer Joe Garden who would be very unhappy if I didn't direct you to his website. He used to do it years ago and then it kind of got picked up by the rest of us. The other ideas come out of our Monday brainstorming sessions or get pitched to me by the writers. A lot of pieces get done by several writers and I think that works well but I kind of regret that when someone has a fantastic idea they end up just another byline on the piece. It's a little too collective farm-like, but I'm not sure of another solution to it. Everyone's bursting with ideas, however, so maybe it all evens out in the end.

You happen to be friends with many of the people who work with you at the AV Club. Do you have any advice for other writers/editors who are friendly with their co-workers on how to get the best out of each side of the relationship without too much strain?
It's probably easier if you're not too friendly with the people you work with, honestly. It's harder to crack the whip. But, you know, whips were made to be cracked. That's why I'm slowly trying to cultivate a low-level resentment amongst my staff. By the time it blossoms into full-blown resentment, The A.V. Club will be stronger than ever!